Method of wireless discovery and networking of medical devices in care environments

ABSTRACT

A system for automatically establishing a network. The system includes a main device group including a main wireless transceiver device, a control device and a first network interface and a secondary device group including a secondary wireless transceiver device, a secondary device group slave device and a second network interface. The main wireless transceiver device wirelessly communicating with the secondary wireless transceiver device to instruct the main device group and the secondary device group to form a network wherein the control device communicates with the secondary device group slave device over the first network interface and the second network interface, respectively. The control device wirelessly controls functions of the secondary device group slave device with instructions sent over the network. The main wireless transceiver device only wirelessly communicates with the secondary wireless transceiver device when the main wireless transceiver device and the secondary wireless transceiver device are in a location.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/160935, filed May 13, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of configuring devices in anoperating theater.

BACKGROUND OP THE INVENTION

Surgeons use many devices to help them during operative procedures.Currently, surgeons or other people in the operative theater have had toconnect all cooperating devices by wiring the devices together oractively setting up a wireless network for each device in the operativetheater before surgery. An easier method of networking devices in anoperative theater is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, according to one aspect, is directed to a systemfor automatically establishing a network. The system has a main devicegroup including a main wireless transceiver device, a control device anda first network interface. The system also has a secondary device groupincluding a secondary wireless transceiver device, a secondary devicegroup slave device and a second network interface. The secondary devicegroup is spaced from the main device group. The main wirelesstransceiver device wirelessly communicates with the secondary wirelesstransceiver device to instruct the main device group and the secondarydevice group to form a network wherein the control device communicateswith the secondary device group slave device over the first networkinterface and the second network interface, respectively. The controldevice wirelessly controls functions of the secondary device group slavedevice with instructions sent over the network. The main wirelesstransceiver device only wirelessly communicates with the secondarywireless transceiver device when the main wireless transceiver deviceand the secondary wireless transceiver device are in a single location.Wireless communications of the main wireless transceiver device and thesecondary wireless transceiver device are not able to pass through wallsof the single location.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method forcontrolling a device. The method includes providing a main device groupincluding a main wireless transceiver device, a control device and afirst network interface. The method also includes providing a secondarydevice group including a secondary wireless transceiver device, a slavedevice and a second network interface, The method further includesspacing the secondary device group from the main device group,wirelessly communicating network information from the main wirelesstransceiver device to the secondary wireless transceiver device, forminga network over the first network interface and the second networkinterface using the network information, and controlling functions ofthe slave device with the control device through instructions sent overthe network. The step of wirelessly communicating network informationonly occurs when the main wireless transceiver device and the secondarywireless transceiver device are in a single location. Wirelesscommunications of the main wireless transceiver device and the secondarywireless transceiver device are not able to pass through walls of thesingle location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by wayof example and should not be construed as being limited to the specificembodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which likereference numerals indicate similar elements,

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a system for automatically networkingdevices in an operating room embodying an aspect of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic view of a system for automatically networkingdevices in an operating room embodying a second aspect of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a wireless transceiver device embodying anaspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of automatically establishing a networkusing the system for automatically networking devices.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for responding to movement of a secondarydevice group of the system for automatically networking devices.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for responding to movement of a main devicegroup of the system for automatically networking devices.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for responding to loss of a network signalby the secondary device group of the system for automatically networkingdevices.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an operating room illustrating examplesof configurable devices.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for sending out room specific informationusing the system for automatically networking devices.

FIG. 9 illustrates a first configuration for ensuring packets ofinformation sent between the slave devices and the control devices overthe gateways reach their intended destination.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of controlling the slave device using thefirst configuration of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates a second configuration for ensuring packets ofinformation sent between the slave devices and the control devices overthe gateways reach their intended destination,

FIG. 12 illustrates a method of controlling the slave device using thesecond configuration of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates a third configuration for ensuring packets ofinformation sent between the slave devices and the control devices overthe gateways reach their intended destination.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method of controlling the slave device using thethird configuration of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 illustrates a system for using a token to connect gateways ofthe present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a system for using wireless transceiver devices ofthe present invention to connect gateways of the present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a method of controlling a plurality of slave devicesusing the system of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 illustrates a method of establishing a communication protocolbetween the slave device and the control device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a method of sending commands using the communicationprotocol as set in the method of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 illustrates a method of reducing wireless traffic using thegateways of the present invention.

The specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings,and described in the following specification are simply exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of description herein, it is to be understood that theinvention may assume various alternative orientations, except whereexpressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood thatthe specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings,and described in the following specification are simply exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims.Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relatingto the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered aslimiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The reference number 8 (FIG. 1A) generally designates a schematic of asystem for automatically networking devices in an operating room 100(see FIG. 7) embodying an aspect of the present invention. The system 8includes a plurality of device groups including a main device group 10and at least one secondary device group 12 a, 12 b. Each of the devicegroups 10, 12 a, 12 b can be located on a portable cart 99 (see FIG. 7)or can be stationary within a room (e.g., on fixed shelving). The maindevice group 10 includes a control device 20 that is configured tocontrol slave devices 18 in the main device group 10 and in thesecondary device groups 12 a, 12 b. The system 8 for automaticallynetworking devices automatically establishes a wireless networkincluding the control device 20 and the slave devices 18 to allow thecontrol device 20 to control the slave devices 18 in the at least onesecondary device group 12 a, 12 b. The system 8 for automaticallynetworking devices employs a main wireless transceiver device 14 a andat least one secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b to establish thewireless network including the control device 20 and the slave devices18.

The illustrated main device group 10 includes the control device 20. Thesecondary device groups 12 a, 12 b can include a secondary controldevice 20. While only two secondary device groups 12 a, 12 b are shown,any number of secondary device groups 12 a, 12 b could be used(including only one secondary device group). Two secondary device groups12 a, 12 b are illustrated in FIG. 1A to show that multiple secondarydevice groups 12 a, 12 b can be used in the system 8 for automaticallynetworking devices.

In the illustrated example, the main device group 10 as illustrated inFIG. 1A includes the control device 20, at least one of the slavedevices 18, the main wireless transceiver device 14 a and a networkinterface or gateway 16. As discussed in more detail below, the controldevice 20 includes an interface for controlling the slave devices 18.The interface of the control device 20 can be used to control one slavedevice 18 at a time or can be used to control multiple slave devices 18simultaneously. The control device 20 can also be used to configureand/or update the software of the slave devices 18 as outlined in moredetail below. Each slave device 18 is a device used in performing asurgical operation. At least one slave device 18 in the main devicegroup 10 is illustrated as being directly linked by a wired system(e.g., via a USB connection) to the control device 20 for control by thecontrol device 20. However, it is contemplated that the main devicegroup 10 can be used without a slave device 18 or that the at least oneslave device 18 in the main device group 10 can be wirelessly networkedwith the control device 20. Moreover, as discussed in more detail below,the control device 20 and the at least one slave device 18 in the maindevice group 10 can be integrated into a single unit or housing.

The illustrated gateway 16 and the main wireless transceiver device 14 aof the main device group 10 allow the control device 20 to be wirelesslynetworked with the slave devices 18 of the secondary device groups 12 a,12 b. The gateway 16 allows the control device 20 to communicatewirelessly and allows for several different devices using variouscommunication standards to communicate over a single wireless network.The gateway 16 has a plurality of inputs (e.g., USB and Ethernet) alongwith a wireless transceiver (e.g., Wi-Fi). Therefore, a plurality ofdifferent devices using different communication standards can beconnected to a single device (i.e., the gateway 16) and can communicatewith other devices in a wireless network including the control device20. The gateway 16 can also take the form of a router for connecting toa hospital network (e.g., HIS) and/or the Internet (either using a wiredconnection or wirelessly). The gateway 16 also allows a device withoutwireless communication capabilities to communicate wirelessly when thedevice without wireless communication capabilities is connected thereto.The main wireless transceiver device 14 a communicates with thesecondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b and the control device 20 tofacilitate establishment of the wireless network.

In the illustrated example, the secondary wireless transceiver devices14 b are wired to the gateway 16 (e.g., via USB) to provide instructionsto the gateway 16 as outlined below. Each secondary device group 12 a,12 b also includes the slave devices 18 wired to the gateway 16 (e.g.,via USB) for allowing the slave devices 18 to communicate wirelesslywith the gateway 16 in the main device group 10, thereby allowing thecontrol device 20 to control the slave devices 18 (through the gateway16). The network is established by the main wireless transceiver device14 a and the gateway 16 connected thereto and is defined by all devicesin the system 8 for automatically networking devices in the operatingroom 100 (that is, the control device 20, the slave devices 18 and thegateways 16). It is contemplated that the wireless network could occurover a pre-established hospital network.

FIG. 1B illustrates a second embodiment of the system 8′ forautomatically networking devices. Since the system 8′ for automaticallynetworking devices is similar to the previously described system 8 forautomatically networking devices, similar components appearing in FIG.1A and FIG. 1B, respectively, are represented by the same, correspondingreference number, except for the prime suffix (′) in the numerals of thelatter. In the second embodiment of the system 8′ for automaticallynetworking devices, the slave devices 18′ have internal wirelesscommunication software and hardware therein, thereby obviating a needfor the gateway 16 (in other words, the slave devices 18 and thegateways 16 of the first embodiment are in a single housing). It iscontemplated that any secondary device group 12 a, 12 b with a slavedevice 18 that does not include wireless communication capability canuse the gateway 16 and any secondary device group 12 a, 12 b with aslave device 18 that includes wireless communication capability candispense with use of the gateway 16. For example, the system 8 forautomatically networking devices could include a first one of secondarydevice groups 12 a with the gateway 16 and a second one of the secondarydevice groups 12 b′ without the gateway 16. The control device 20′ ofthe system 8′ for automatically networking devices could also beintegrated with internal wireless communication software and hardwaretherein, thereby obviating a need for the gateway 16 (in other words,the control device 20 and the gateway 16 of the first embodiment are ina single housing).

In the illustrated example, the main wireless transceiver device 14 a,14 a′ and each of the secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′(FIG. 2) facilitate establishment of the network. The main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and each of the secondary wirelesstransceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ include a motherboard 22 having one ormore processors 30 or other similar control devices as well as one ormore memory devices 32. The processor 30 controls the overall operationof the wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′ and caninclude hardwired circuitry, programmable circuitry that executessoftware, or a combination thereof. The processor 30 may, for example,execute software stored in the memory device 32. The processor 30 mayinclude, for example, one or more general- or special-purposeprogrammable microprocessors and/or microcontrollers, applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs),programmable gate arrays (PGAs), or the like. The memory device 32 mayinclude any combination of one or more random access memories (RAMs),read-only memories (ROMs—which may be programmable), flash memory,and/or other similar storage devices. Each of the wireless transceiverdevices 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′ also includes a wired communicationinterface 24 for physical connection with the slave devices 18, 18′, awireless transceiver 26 (or separate receiver and transmitter arrays)for communicating with other wireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′,14 b, 14 b′ and a motion detector 28. The motion detector 28 is employedto establish a network and to break at least a portion of the network asdescribed below. The motion detector 28 can be any device used to sensemotion of the wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′ andcessation of motion. For example, the motion detector 28 can be at leastone accelerometer (e.g., linear and/or rotational), a vibration sensoror optical or image sensors that observe motion of the ground under themotion detector 28. It is contemplated that the motion detector 28 couldbe a separate device connected to the wireless transceiver device 14 a,14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method 50 of automatically establishing the networkusing the system 8, 8′ for automatically networking devices. Atinitiation, the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ of the maindevice group 10, 10′ is booted up/started at step 52. The control device20. and the gateway 16 or the control device 20′ (which includes abuilt-in gateway 16) will also be booted up/started or already startedat this point. Once fully booted up, the main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ will send out a wakeup broadcast received by anysecondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ in the operating roomat step 54. It is contemplated that the main wireless transceiver device14 a, 14 a′ can include a start button or icon that can be engaged tosend out the wakeup broadcast of step 54 if the main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ is already booted up/started and onedesires the method 50 to begin.

In the illustrated example, in order to only connect the slave devices18, 18′ in the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ in theoperating room 100 to the control device 20, 20′ and not other slavedevices 18, 18′ outside of the operating room 100, the wakeup broadcastwill only be sent and received within the operating room 100. The wakeupbroadcast therefore will not pass through walls. For example, the wakeupbroadcast can be sent by an infrared signal, an acoustic signal or radiowaves (e.g., high frequency). It is contemplated that windows in theoperating room 100 could include an optically-transparent, butinfrared-blocking filter on the windows to stop or minimize lightinterference (e.g., sunlight) or crosstalk between window-connectedrooms. It is also contemplated that the secondary wireless transceiverdevices 14 b, 14 b′ could use a signal processing approach such aslow-pass filtering to only receive or process the wakeup broadcast fromthe main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ in the same operatingroom 100. If there are not any secondary wireless transceiver devices 14b, 14 b′ in the operating room 100 as determined at decision step 56, nofurther action is taken at this time at step 58 and the method 50 ends.It is further contemplated that the broadcast could be both infrared andultrasonic. It is further contemplated that the devices receiving thebroadcast signal would only process the broadcast signal if receivedboth in infrared and ultrasonically to thereby ensure that only devicesin the same room are communicating.

If there are secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ in theoperating room 100 as determined at decision step 56, the wakeupbroadcast will wake up the secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b,14 b′ in the operating room 100 at step 60. Once woken, the secondarywireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ in the operating room 100 willsend a wireless linking information query (e.g., IP and SSID) to themain wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ at step 62. Once again, thewireless linking information query sent from the secondary wirelesstransceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ to the main wireless transceiver device14 a, 14 a′ will only be sent and received within the operating room 100using the manner of communication as outlined above. The wirelesslinking information query therefore will not pass through walls or willbe filtered using a signal processing approach. It is contemplated thatthe secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ can also bootup/start the associated slave device(s) 18 and the associated gateway 16or the associated slave device(s) 18′ when woken at step 60.

The main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ will have the wirelesslinking information programmed therein or will be capable of obtainingthe wireless linking information from the gateway 16 in the main devicegroup 10 or from the control device 20′. The main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ will then broadcast the wireless linking informationat step 64. It is contemplated that the secondary wireless transceiverdevice 14 b, 14 b′ can also broadcast the wireless linking informationif the wireless linking information query is received thereby. Forexample, the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ canbroadcast the wireless linking information every time the wirelesslinking information query is received or if the wireless linkinginformation broadcast by the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14a′ is not received in a certain time period (for example, when thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ sending the wirelesslinking information query is not capable of directly communicating withthe main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′). Once again, thewireless linking information sent or broadcast to the second transceiverdevice 14 b, 14 b′ will only be broadcast and received within theoperating room 100 using the manner of communication as outlined above.The wireless linking information therefore will not pass through wallsor will be filtered using a signal processing approach (or will be sentin another manner, for example, both in infrared and ultrasonically asoutlined above). The second transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ then receivesthe wireless linking information at step 66 and passes the wirelesslinking information to the gateway 16 in the secondary device group 12a, 12 b or the slave device 18′ at step 68 to automatically establish anetwork including the control device 20 and the slave devices 18, 18′ ofthe secondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ at step 70.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method 101 for responding to movement of thesecondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′. As an initial step,there is a determination of whether the secondary device group 12 a, 12b, 12 a′, 12 b′ has moved at decision step 102. Movement of thesecondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ can be determined usingthe motion detector 28 in the secondary wireless transceiver device 14b, 14 b′ as outlined above or can alternatively (or also) be determinedusing the signal processing approach outlined above (that is, low-passfiltering can determine if the secondary wireless transceiver device 14b, 14 b′ has moved when the signal goes below a certain threshold). Ifthe motion detector 28 of the secondary wireless transceiver device 14b, 14 b′ does not send a signal that the secondary wireless transceiverdevice 14 b, 14 b′ (and the corresponding secondary device group 12 a,12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′) is moving to the processor 30 of the secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ at decision step 102, thenetwork connection of the control device 20, 20′ and the slave devices18, 18′ of the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ ismaintained at step 103. If the motion detector 28 of the secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ sends a signal that thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ (and the correspondingsecondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′) is moving to theprocessor 30 of the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ atdecision step 102, the method proceeds to decision step 104. At decisionstep 104, if the motion detector 28 of the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ has not yet sent a signal that thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ and the secondarydevice group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ have stopped moving to theprocessor 30 of the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′(or continues to send a signal that the secondary wireless transceiverdevice 14 b, 14 b′ continues to move), then the method 101 continues ina loop until the motion detector 28 of the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ sends a signal that the secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ and the secondary device group12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ have stopped moving to the processor 30 of thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ (or discontinuessending a signal that the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14b′ is moving). Once a determination is made that the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ is no longer moving at decision step 104,the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ will send awireless linking information query to the main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ at step 106.

If the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ receives thewireless linking information at decision step 108, then a determinationis made if the wireless linking information is identical to the wirelesslinking information currently in memory of the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ at decision step 110. If the wirelesslinking information received in step 108 is identical to the wirelesslinking information currently in memory of the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ as determined at decision step 110, thenetwork connection of the control device 20, 20′ and the slave devices18, 18′ of the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ ismaintained at step 112. If the wireless linking information received instep 108 is not identical to the wireless linking information currentlyin memory of the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ asdetermined at decision step 110, the secondary wireless transceiverdevice 14 b, 14 b′ erases the old wireless linking information and thenpasses the new wireless linking information to the gateway 16 in thesecondary device group 12 a, 12 b or the slave device 18′ at step 114 toautomatically establish a new network between the control device 20, 20′and the slave devices 18, 18′ of the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b,12 a′, 12 b′ using the new wireless linking information at step 114.When decision step 110 determines that the wireless linking informationreceived in step 108 is identical to the wireless linking informationcurrently in memory of the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b,14 b′, the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ has onlymoved within the operating room 100 (e.g., jostled or moved to anotherarea of the room). When decision step 110 determines that the wirelesslinking information received in step 108 is not identical to thewireless linking information currently in memory of the secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′, the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ has moved outside of the operating room100 and into another operating room having another main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′.

If the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ does notreceive the wireless linking information at decision step 108, then thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ will send anotherwireless linking information query at step 116 after a certainpredetermined time period (e.g., 1 minute). If the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ receives the wireless linking informationat decision step 118 after sending out another wireless linkinginformation query at step 116, then the method proceeds to decision step110 as outlined above. If the secondary wireless transceiver device 14b, 14 b′ does not receive the wireless linking information at decisionstep 118 after sending out another wireless linking information query atstep 116, then the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′will instruct the gateway 16 in the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b,12 a′, 12 b′ or the slave device 18′ (with the integrated gateway 16) toset the network ID to “not current” and go into sleep mode at step 120.It is also contemplated that the secondary wireless transceiver device14 b, 14 b′ could also instruct the gateway 16 in the secondary devicegroup 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ or the slave device 18′ (with theintegrated gateway 16) to go into sleep mode. It is contemplated thatsteps 116 and 118 can be performed more than once (e.g., 3 times orevery certain time interval (e.g., every 2-3 seconds) for a certainperiod of time (e.g., 1 minute)) before proceeding to step 120 if thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ continues to notreceive the wireless linking information. Once the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ is in sleep mode, the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ can continue in sleep mode until the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ sends out a wakeup signal asoutlined in step 54 of method 50 above. It is also contemplated that thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ can be manually wokento send out the wireless linking information query as set forth in step60 of method 50 above (e.g., automatically sent when powered on),thereby bypassing the need for the main wireless transceiver device 14a, 14 a′ to send out the wake up signal. Moreover, the secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ can be programmed toperiodically wake up (e,g., every 2 hours) to send out the wirelesslinking information query and go back to sleep if no wireless linkinginformation broadcast is received.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 150 for responding to movement of the maindevice group 10, 10′. As an initial step, there is a determination ofmovement of the main device group 10, 10′ at decision step 152. Movementof the main device group 10 is determined using the motion detector 28in the main wireless transceiver device 14 a or using a signalprocessing approach as outlined above. If the motion detector 28 of themain wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ does not send a signal thatthe main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and thereby the maindevice group 10, 10′ is moving to the processor 30 of the main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ at decision step 152, the networkconnection of the control device 20, 20′ and the slave devices 18, 18′of the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ is maintained atstep 154. If the motion detector 28 of the main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ sends a signal that the main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ and thereby the main device group 10, 10′ is movingto the processor 30 of the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′at decision step 152, then the method proceeds to step 156 wherein themain wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ sends out a refresh signal.The refresh signal can be sent via Wi-Fi (e.g., through the gateway 16,16′) or directly from the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′via the communication techniques outlined above. The main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ sends out a refresh signal at step 156when movement of the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′begins.

The secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ in the operatingroom 100 will receive the refresh signal at step 158 and then determineif the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and the main devicegroup 10, 10′ have left the operating room 100. First, at step 160, thesecondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ will send a wirelesslinking information query to the main wireless transceiver device 14 a,14 a′ after a set period of time (e.g., 1 minute) at step 160. If themain wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ is still in the operatingroom 100 as determined at decision step 162, the main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ will broadcast the wireless linkinginformation at step 164. The secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b,14 b′ will receive the wireless linking information broadcast at step166 and the network connection of the control device 20, 20′ and theslave devices 18, 18′ of the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′,12 b′ is maintained at step 168.

If the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ is no longer in theoperating room 100 as determined at decision step 162, then thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ will send anotherwireless linking information query at step 170 after a certainpredetermined time period (e.g., 1 minute) or for a certain period oftime. Since the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ is nolonger in the operating room 100, the secondary wireless transceiverdevice 14 b, 14 b′ will instruct the gateway 16 in the secondary devicegroup 12 a, 12 b or the slave device 18′ to set the network ID to “notcurrent” and go into sleep mode at step 172. It is also contemplatedthat the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ could alsoinstruct the gateway 16 in the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b or theslave device 18′ to go into sleep mode. Further, step 170 can beperformed more than once (e.g., 3 times or every certain time interval(e.g., every 2-3 seconds) for a certain period of time (e.g., 1 minute))before proceeding to step 172 if the secondary wireless transceiverdevice 14 b, 14 b′ continues to not receive the wireless linkinginformation. Once the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′is in sleep mode, the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′will continue in sleep mode until the main wireless transceiver device14 a, 14 a′ sends out a wakeup signal as outlined in step 54 of method50 above. The secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ can bemanually woken (e.g., automatically sent when powered on) to send outthe wireless linking information query as set forth in step 60 of method50 above, thereby bypassing the need for the main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ to send out the wake up signal. The secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ could send out the wirelesslinking information query more than once at step 160 when the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ is still in the operating room100 if the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b does not receivethe control IP broadcast from the main wireless transceiver device 14 a,14 a′ during the initial broadcast (or if the main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ does not receive the first wireless linkinginformation query (or first couple wireless linking informationqueries)).

After the main wireless transceiver device 14 a sends out the refreshsignal at step 156, the method 150 proceeds to decision step 174. Atdecision step 174, if the motion detector 28 of the main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ has not yet sent a signal that the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and the associated main devicegroup 10 have stopped moving to the processor 30 of the main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ (or continues to send a signal that themain wireless transceiver device 14 a continues to move), then themethod 150 continues in a loop until the motion detector 28 of the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ sends a signal that the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and the main device group 10,10′ have stopped moving to the processor 30 of the main wirelesstransceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ (or discontinues sending a signal thatthe main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ is moving). Once adetermination is made that the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14a′ is no longer moving at decision step 174, the method 150 forresponding to movement of the main device group 10 proceeds to themethod 50 of automatically establishing the network using the system 8,8′ for automatically networking devices. It is contemplated that step 52of the method 50 of automatically establishing the network using thesystem 8, 8′ for automatically networking devices could be omitted atthis step if the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ is alreadyrunning. It is further contemplated that the main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ could send out a “movement stop” message, which willcause the secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ to go todecision step 110 of the method of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 175 for responding to loss of a networksignal by the secondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ of thesystem 8, 8′ for automatically networking devices. Starting at step 176,the wireless network including the slave device 18, 18′ is broken (thatis, the slave device 18, 18′ and/or the gateway 16 no longer isreceiving any signals from the gateway 16 connected to the controldevice 20 or from the control device 20′). The slave device 18, 18′ willthen instruct the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ totransmit a wireless linking information query at step 178. Once thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ transmits the wirelesslinking information query at step 178, the method 175 for responding toloss of a network signal proceeds to step 108 of the method 101 asoutlined above and proceeds through the rest of the steps of method 101(including steps 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 and/or 120 as determined usingthe methodology of method 101 outlined above).

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of an operating room 100 according toone embodiment illustrating specific examples of the slave devices 18,18′. The operating room 100 includes a surgical table 113 configured tosupport a patient thereon during surgery and a plurality of the slavedevices 18, 18′ used for performing or assisting in surgery on thepatient within the operating room 100. The control device 20, 20′ cancontrol the functions of the slave devices 18, 18′. However, it iscontemplated that the slave devices 18, 18′ can also or alternatively beindependently controlled.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, examples of slave devices 18 include an imageand video capture and recording device 200, a video camera 220 and anassociated endoscope 238, a touchscreen monitor 222, a camera controlunit 224, a scope light source unit 226, operating room lights 228, aprinter 230, a fluid management pump 232, an insufflator 241, a shaver236, an RE and shaver control 234 and an additional monitor 235.However, any slave device 18 located within the operating room 100 canreceive instruction from the control device 20, 20′. The slave devices18 are illustrated as being part of a main device group 10 and part ofsecondary device groups 12 a provided on the carts 99. The main devicegroup 10 and the secondary device groups 12 a are illustrated asincluding a separate gateway 16 as outlined above. However, the slavedevices 18 and the control device 20 could have the gateway 16incorporated therein as outlined above, thereby obviating the need for aseparate gateway 16 (that is, the slave devices and the control devicecould be the slave devices 18′ and the control device 20′ outlinedabove). The operating room 100 also includes a secondary device group 12b including a room master wireless transceiver device 14 c and a gateway16″. The room master wireless transceiver device 14 c is fixed inposition within the operating room 100 and is identical to the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and the secondary wirelesstransceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ outlined above, although the room masterwireless transceiver device 14 c does not require a motion detector 28as the room master wireless transceiver device 14 c is not intended tomove. The room master wireless transceiver device 14 c can be wired tothe gateway 16 and the gateway 16 can be wired to slave devices 18 whichare normally fixed in the operating room 100 (e.g., the operating roomlights 228 and a room camera 300). It is contemplated that the secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ could be the room masterwireless transceiver device 14 c (i.e., the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ could be fixed in position in theoperating room 100 along with the rest of the main device group 10(e.g., on shelving)). The room master wireless transceiver device 14 cis discussed in more detail below in regard to FIG. 8.

In the illustrated example, one of the slave devices 18 is the image andvideo capture and recording device 200 located in a control housing 221.The image and video capture and recording device 200 can output imagesand video on the touchscreen monitor 222, which can be integrated intothe control housing 221. The image and video capture and recordingdevice 200 can also output images and video to the additional monitor235 via either a wired connection or wirelessly (e.g., to another slavedevice 18, 18′). The illustrated image and video capture and recordingdevice 200 is therefore capable of displaying images and videos on thetouchscreen monitor 222 and/or on the additional monitor 235 capturedlive by cameras and/or replayed from recorded images and videos. Theimage and video capture and recording device 200 can also control theimages and videos being shown on the touchscreen monitor 222 (e.g., bycontrolling the source of the image on the touchscreen monitor 222(e.g., from a camera, from a saved video file, etc.)).

The illustrated image and video capture and recording device 200 is alsocapable of recording images and videos. The image and video capture andrecording device 200 can include an internal hard drive for storingcaptured images and videos and can also communicate with a picturearchiving and communication system (PACS), as is well known to thoseskilled in the art, to save images and video in the PACS and forretrieving images and videos from the PACS. The image and video captureand recording device 200 can also display any saved images (e.g., fromthe internal hard drive or from the PACS) on the touchscreen monitor 222and/or the additional monitor 235. It is contemplated that the image andvideo capture and recording device 200 could obtain or create images ofa patient during a surgical procedure from a variety of sources (e.g.,from video cameras, video cassette recorders, X-ray scanners (whichconvert X-ray films to digital files), digital X-ray acquisitionapparatus, fluoroscopes, CT scanners, MRI scanners, ultrasound scanners,CCD devices, and other types of scanners (handheld or otherwise)). Theimage and video capture and recording device 200 having the touchscreenmonitor 222 within the control housing 221 is well known to thoseskilled in the art. An example of an image and video capture andrecording device 200 is the SDC3 HD Information Management System assold by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Mich. An example of anadditional monitor 235 is the WISE HDTV wireless display as sold byStryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Mich. The additional monitor 235 canbe wired to the image and video capture and recording device 200 or canbe wirelessly connected (e.g., by using the Wireless WISE HD transmitteras sold by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Mich.).

In the illustrated example, several of the slave devices 18 can becontrolled by the image and video capture and recording device 200 forobtaining the images and videos and for outputting the captured andrecorded images and videos. For example, the images and videos can becaptured by the video camera 220, which includes well-known componentsfor generating color video based on light received through the endoscope238 of the type commonly used for laparoscopy or arthroscopy (e.g.,endoscope). The image and video capture and recording device 200 cancontrol the video camera 220 to turn on and turn off the video camera220 or to capture images using the video camera 220. The control device20 can communicate with the video camera 220 to adjust settings of thevideo camera 220 (e.g., resolution, zoom, etc.).

Yet another slave device 18 is the camera control unit 224 that iscoupled to the video camera 220 by a flexible electronic transmissionline 240. The transmission line 240 conveys video data from the videocamera 220 to the camera control unit 224 and also conveys variouscontrol signals bi-directionally between the video camera 220 and thecamera control unit 224. The camera control unit 224 can be connected(wired or wirelessly) to the image and video capture and recordingdevice 200 to provide the images and videos to the image and videocapture and recording device 200. Video cameras 220 and camera controlunits 224 used with endoscopes 238 are well known to those skilled inthe art. An example of the video camera 220 and camera control unit 224for use with an endoscope is the 1488 HD Camera as sold by StrykerCorporation of Kalamazoo, Mich.

Another slave device 18 is the scope light source unit 226 thattransmits'high intensity light into the patient through the endoscope238 via a fiber optic cable 244. Scope light source units 226 used withendoscopes 238 are well known to those skilled in the art. An example ofthe scope light source unit 226 for use with the endoscope 238 is theL9000 LED Light Source as sold by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo,Mich.

Another of the plurality of slave devices 18 can include the operatingroom lights 228 mounted to one of the ceilings, a room wall 246 or otherstationary structure of the operating room 100. The control device 20can be used to adjust the intensity of the operating room lights 228.Yet another slave device 18 can be the room camera 300 mounted to one ofthe ceiling, a room wall 246 or other stationary structure of theoperating room 100.

Yet another one of the plurality of slave devices 18 is the printer 230.The printer 230 can be connected to the image and video capture andrecording device 200 for outputting images from the image and videocapture and recording device 200. The control device 20 can control theprinter 230 in order to print selected images. An example of the printer230 is the SDP1000 Medical Grade Digital Printer as sold by StrykerCorporation of Kalamazoo, Mich.

Another of the plurality of slave devices 18 is the fluid managementpump 232. The fluid management pump 232 is employed during surgicalprocedures to introduce sterile solution into the surgical site and toremove fluid and debris generated by the procedure. In the illustratedexample, the fluid management pump 232 can supply the motive force forpumping the sterile solution through an inflow tube (not shown) into thesurgical site via a cannula. The fluid management pump 232 can alsosupply the motive force for suctioning solution and any waste materialremoved from the surgical site from an outflow tube 247 to a waste tube237 connected to a waste container 201. In the illustrated example, theoutflow tube 247 is connected to the shaver 236. An example of the fluidmanagement pump 232 is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2013/0267779 entitled CONTROL FOR SURGICAL FLUID MANAGEMENT PUMPSYSTEM, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference. An example of the shaver 236 is the FORMULA° Shaver HandPiece as sold by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Mich. The controldevice 20 can control the fluid management pump 232 by altering variouscontrols of the control unit for the fluid management pump 232. Forexample, the control device 20 can control the pressure of the fluidbeing pumped into the surgical site and/or the flow rate of fluid to orfrom the surgical site. The control device 20 can also control the speedof the shaver 236 or other settings.

Yet another one of the plurality of slave devices 18 is the RF andshaver control 234. The RF and shaver control 234 sends power to anablation and coagulation device or electrosurgical tool (not shown)and/or the shaver 236. Ablation and coagulation devices are well knownto those skilled in the art. An example of an ablation and coagulationdevice that can be connected to the RF and shaver control 234 is theSERFAS™ Energy Probe as sold by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Mich.The RF and shaver control 234 sends power to the shaver 236 through acable 243. An example of the RF and shaver control 234 is the CROSSFIRE°arthroscopic resection system as sold by Stryker Corporation ofKalamazoo, Mich. The control device 20 can control the RF and shavercontrol 234 by altering the power sent to the ablation and coagulationdevice (not shown) and/or the shaver 236 or other controls.

Another of the plurality of slave devices 18 is the insufflator 241. Theinsufflator 241 is used to supply inert, nontoxic gases, such as carbondioxide, into a body cavity, in order to expand the cavity, or tominimize visual obstruction during minimally invasive or laparoscopicsurgery. An insufflator 241 is well known to those skilled in the art.An example of the insufflator 241 is the PNEUMOSURE® 45L Insufflator assold by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Mich. The control device 20can control the insufflator 241 by adjusting the pressure of the gassupplied into the body cavity.

The control device 20 can have a motherboard that includes one or moreprocessors or other similar control devices as well as one or morememory devices. The processor controls the overall operation of thecontrol device and can include hardwired circuitry, programmablecircuitry that executes software, or a combination thereof. Theprocessor may, for example, execute software stored in the memorydevice. The processor may include, for example, one or more general- orspecial-purpose programmable microprocessors and/or microcontrollers,application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logicdevices (PLDs), programmable gate arrays (PGAs), or the like. The memorydevice may include any combination of one or more random access memories(RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs) (which may be programmable), flashmemory, and/or other similar storage devices. The control device 20 canalso have a network interface for connecting the control device 20 tothe Internet or other type of wide area network (WAN), a local areanetwork (LAN), a corporate intranet, any other type of network, or acombination of such networks.

The illustrated control device 20 can be a stand-alone devicecommunicating with the slave devices 18 (wired or wirelessly) to controlthe slave devices 18 and to configure the slave devices 18 by adjustingthe settings of the slave devices 18. Alternatively, the control device20 can be incorporated into one of the slave devices 18 thatcommunicates with the other slave devices 18 to control the other slavedevices 18 and to configure the slave devices 18 by adjusting thesettings of the slave devices 18. In the illustrated example, thecontrol device 20 can be incorporated within the control housing 221 ofthe image and video capture and recording device 200 such that thetouchscreen monitor 222 can be used to control the slave devices 18. Itis further contemplated that the image and video capture and recordingdevice 200 can control slave devices 18, 18′ via the touchscreen 222 andalso can receive audible or voice commands to control the slave devices18, 18′. The control device 20, 20′ can have input devices connectedthereto (e.g., foot switch) to issue any commands to the slave devices18, 18′ (e.g., triggering the foot switch can capture digital imagesfrom the video camera 220). An example of a control device 20, 20′interacting with slave devices 18, 18′ for controlling the slave devices18, 18′ is the SDC3 HD Information Management System (with devicecontrol and/or voice device control) as sold by Stryker Corporation ofKalamazoo, Mich. Further, such a control device is also disclosed inU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0274586 entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS ON A SINGLE TOUCH PANEL,the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method 400 for sending out room specificinformation using the system for automatically networking devices 8, 8′.For the method 400, the room master wireless transceiver device 14 c isneeded. In the method 400, the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14a′ and/or the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ sendsout the wireless linking information query and/or a room ID query atstep 402. Step 402 can happen when the main wireless transceiver device14 a, 14 a′ and/or the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′are powered up or when motion of the main wireless transceiver device 14a, 14 a′ and/or the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′has stopped. In response to the wireless linking information queryand/or a room ID query, the room master wireless transceiver device 14 cwill broadcast the room ID specific to the operating room 100 having theroom master wireless transceiver device 14 c therein at step 404. Themain wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and/or the secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ will then send the room ID tothe control device 20, 20′, the gateway 16 and/or the slave devices 18,18′ (e.g., through the gateway 16) at step 406. The room master wirelesstransceiver device 14 c can have the room ID programmed therein or canobtain the room ID from another device fixed in the operating room 100(e.g., the control device 20, 20′) that has the room ID programmedtherein.

In the illustrated example, the room ID can be used to obtaininformation about the location of the devices in the operating room 100.For example, the slave devices 18, 18′, the control device 20, 20′, thewireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 b, 14 a′, 14 b′, the room masterwireless transceiver device 14 c and/or the device groups 10, 10′, 12 a,12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′ can send location information to a central computingsystem of the medical complex informing the central computing system ofthe presence of all devices within an operating room 100 associated witha particular room ID (automatically or after request from the centralcomputing system of the medical complex). The location information caninclude a device ID unique to each device along with a room ID.Therefore, the location of the devices in the medical complex can beaccurately tracked in real time.

The room ID obtained in the illustrated example can also be used toconfigure the operating room 100 and/or obtain information about thedevices in the operating room 100. For example, the control device 20,20′ can connect to a hospital scheduling system and electronic medicalrecords to automatically configure the control device 20, 20′ and theslave devices 18, 18′ in the operating room 100 for the next surgery tobe performed in the operating room 100 identified with the room ID. Itis contemplated that only the slave devices 18, 18′ to be used in thenext surgery will be configured. For example, the control device 20, 20′and the slave devices 18, 18′ can be automatically configured for theparticular surgery to be performed, the particular patient and/or forthe particular medical staff that will be performing the medicaloperation in the operating room 100 identified with the room ID at aparticular time. The configurations to be used can be obtained from adigital surgical preference card saved in the medical facility's ITsystem (e.g., EMR record system). Moreover, the digital surgicalpreference card can be updated after surgery from information obtainedduring surgery by having the control devices 20, 20′ send the updatedinformation to the medical facility's IT system. Using the room ID, itis possible to transport the device groups 10, 12 a, 12 b into aparticular operating room 100 and have the slave devices 18, 18′ beautomatically configured once powered. It is also contemplated that thedevices in the operating room 100 can be configured by obtainingpreferences using the METHOD OF CONFIGURING DEVICES IN AN OPERATINGTHEATER as disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/100,286, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference. The METHOD OF CONFIGURING DEVICES IN AN OPERATING THEATERcan be used employing the room ID or can be used without knowing theroom ID using the methods disclosed in U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/100,286.

In the illustrated example, the slave devices 18, 18′ can be furtherconfigured using the room ID. For example, the control device 20, 20′can select appropriate monitor and camera settings (e.g., colorsetpoint) based on the particular surgery to be performed, theparticular patient and/or for the particular medical staff and/or canuse an algorithm that allows the system 8, 8′ to learn the appropriatesettings based on the particular surgery to be performed, the particularpatient and/or for the particular medical staff. Moreover, the monitors222, 235 can be adjusted to suit the brightness, resolution, colorbalance and other image parameter preferences of a member of the medicalstaff using the particular room before the surgical procedure beginsusing information associated with the medical procedure scheduleassociated with the room ID. Likewise, video equipment can be configuredwith appropriate surgical specialty parameters, post-processing method,and light and gain level before the surgical procedure begins usinginformation associated with the medical procedure schedule associatedwith the room ID. Moreover, when the slave devices 18, 18′ includesurgical tools (e.g., the shaver 236), the slave devices 18, 18′ can beconfigured with energy, speed, mode and suction parameters to be usedfor the particular procedure scheduled in the operating room 100 at aparticular time using information associated with the medical procedureschedule associated with the room ID. Furthermore, an audio system inthe operating room 100 can play music of choice of the medical staff andat a selected volume using information associated with the medicalprocedure schedule associated with the room ID.

The illustrated slave devices 18, 18′ can further be configured withoutthe need to know the room ID. For example, the system 8, 8′ can be usedto configure the setting of the scope light source unit 226, insufflator241, fluid management pump 232 or video camera 220 settings based onactions of connected slave devices 18, 18′ to obtain the best possibleimage in the presence of active instruments (e.g., a particular cutteror endoscope). Moreover, slave devices 18, 18′ on carts 99 can receivesoftware updates automatically from control devices 20, 20′ connected tothe existing hospital network. Real time monitoring and troubleshootingof the slave devices 18, 18′ on the carts 99 can be performed fromoutside a sterile field and potentially from a remote workstation.

The room ID obtained in the illustrated example can also be used to sendinformation to be used by the devices in the operating room 100 or torecord information from the devices in the operating room 100. Forexample, digital capture documentation (for example, for the image andvideo capture and recording device 200) can be automatically retrievedfrom the electronic medical records and fields therein can beautomatically populated. For example, information about the patient,medical professional and procedure can be obtained using the room ID toautomatically populate intra-surgical documentation as disclosed in U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/061,398 entitled INTRA-SURGICALDOCUMENTATION SYSTEM, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, all captured data,imagery and video can be automatically recorded in the record (such asan electronic health record system) associated with a particular patientin the operating room 100 identified with the room ID at a particulartime upon completion of the procedure. Moreover, it can be possible toquery the patient medical record and notify the medical staff of anysafety issues important to the medical procedure or the instruments usedin the medical procedure.

In the illustrated example, the system 8, 8′ can be used to send loginformation (e.g., hours of usage, type of usage, operation information)for the slave devices 18, 18′ to a central computing system of themedical facility or the control device 20, 20′ for storage, use and/oranalysis at a later time. The log information can be sent to the centralcomputing system automatically or after the central computing systemsends a query to the slave devices 18, 18′ through the network includingthe slave devices 18, 18′ (e.g., when the existing hospital network isconnected to the control device 20, 20′). The log information sent tothe central computing system or the control device 20, 20′ provides apossibility for automatically notifying and triggering a correctiveresponse (e.g., from sales or engineering staff) when a minor issuefirst arises. The corrective response can resolve issues before theissues are noticed by the medical staff. The log information can also beused for automated pay-per-use billing of use of the slave devices 18,18′.

In the illustrated example, the secondary wireless transceiver devices14 b, 14 b′, the main wireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′ and theroom master wireless transceiver device 14 c all communicate with eachother in the same operating room 100. To facilitate this communication,it is contemplated that all of the broadcasts (e.g., the refresh signal,the room ID and the wireless linking information) from the main wirelesstransceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′ (e.g., the refresh signal, the room IDand the wireless linking information) or the room master wirelesstransceiver device 14 c (e.g., the room ID) can be echoed by eachsecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ that received suchbroadcast to ensure that every secondary wireless transceiver device 14b, 14 b′ in the operating room 100 receives the broadcast. Furthermore,it is contemplated that all of the secondary wireless transceiverdevices 14 b, 14 b′, the main wireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′and the room master wireless transceiver device 14 c be installed in orpositioned at a fixed vertical height range from the ground. Moreover,it is contemplated that the transmitting portion of the wirelesstransceiver 26 (e.g., LEDs) can point radially outward in a horizontalplane to create a toroidal far-field beam pattern and that the receivingportion of the wireless transceiver 26 (e.g., infrared receiverintegrated circuit) can be located on a radial edge of the circuit boardof the devices 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′ and 14 c on the opposite side ofthe transmitting portion to maximize the view field and sensitivity ofthe receiving portion while minimizing saturation of the receivingportion from light emitted from the transmitting portion of the samedevice 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′ and 14 c.

It is possible for the secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14b′ in the illustrated example to lose the network connection. Forexample, the main wireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′ could moveoutside of the operating room 100 as outlined above in regard to themethod 150 of FIG. 5. However, if the secondary wireless transceiverdevices 14 b, 14 b′ lose the network connection without the mainwireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′ having been moved, it iscontemplated that the secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′can perform a portion of method 101 starting at step 106 to reestablishconnection (or enter the sleep mode if appropriate).

The illustrated secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ cansend wireless linking information queries or room ID queries at certaintime periods or for limited times to preserve power and to minimizesignal traffic. Therefore, the secondary wireless transceiver devices 14b, 14 b′ can send the query messages no more frequently than a fixedtime interval (e.g., 1 minute as outlined above) or a random timeinterval (1) from transmission of a signal by the particular secondarywireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′, (2) from reception of a signalfrom another wireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′ and14 c, (3) after being disconnected from the network, and/or (4) fromstoppage of movement (e.g., in decision step 104 of method 101). Using arandom time interval for each particular secondary wireless transceiverdevice 14 b, 14 b′ can minimize signal traffic (opposed to signaltraffic if all secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ in asingle room all sent queries at the same time after they all received asignal). Limiting the frequency of queries can also allow for thesecondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ to operate from apower source of limited current output (e.g., USB power). Furthermore,the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ can go into sleepmode if no response is received after a particular number of queries issent without any response to the queries or after a particular time haspassed without any response to the queries.

The illustrated secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ can beprovided on the cart 99, with the cart 99 including slave devices 18,18′ used in a particular surgical operation. Likewise, it iscontemplated that the main wireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ canbe in a group with slave devices 18, 18′ used in a particular surgicaloperation. To minimize signal traffic, it is contemplated that the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, 14 b′ having slave devices 18, 18′ for a firstsurgical procedure can communicate using a first type of signal (e.g., afirst frequency or infrared) and the main wireless transceiver device 14a, 14 a′ and the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′having slave devices 18, 18′ for a second surgical procedure cancommunicate using a second type of signal (e.g., a second frequencydifferent than the first frequency or acoustic) such that the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and the secondary wirelesstransceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ having slave devices 18, 18′ for thefirst surgical procedure are not able to communicate with the mainwireless transceiver device 14 a, 14 a′ and the secondary wirelesstransceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ having slave devices 18, 18′ for thesecond surgical procedure.

It is contemplated that the system 8, 8′ can perform other functions.For example, multiple wireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14b′ and 14 c can be used to triangulate a position of any particularwireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′ and 14 c to find aspecific location (even in a particular room) of the wirelesstransceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′, 14 b, 14 b′ and 14 c and any associatedcontrol devices 20, 20′, gateways 16 and/or slave devices 18, 18′.

In the illustrated example, more than one main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ can be located in a particular operating room 100. Itis therefore contemplated that the main wireless transceiver device 14a, 14 a′ can act as a secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b, 14 b′(e.g., by sending a wireless linking information query) to determine ifa network is already established in the operating room 100. If there isalready an established network, the second main wireless transceiverdevice 14 a, 14 a′ will act as a secondary wireless transceiver device14 b, 14 b′ until the network is lost. It is also contemplated that auser can manually resolve any conflicts between two or more mainwireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′ located in a particularoperating room 100.

The illustrated system 8, 8′ allows the medical professional to controlall instruments (slave devices 18, 18′) in the operating room 100 whileseated and without moving (e.g., at a nurse's station) such that themedical professional does not have to leave their location or work areaand navigate a crowd of instruments, carts, cables and other personnel.Moreover, more than one person can have access to control of a slavedevice 18, 18′ (e.g., by using an interface of the slave device 18, 18′along with using the interface of the slave device 18, 18′ as viewed atone or more control devices 20, 20′). The system 8, 8′ replaces linkingtokens and other manual connecting devices in an operating room 100 thatwere previously needed to connect slave devices 18 to a control device20.

As a backup to the system 8, 8′, it is contemplated that a linking tokencan be inserted into gateways 16, devices with gateways (wirelesstransceiver devices, control devices or slave devices) or devicesconnected to the gateways 16 to provide the wireless linking informationto all gateways 16 or devices with gateways. Alternatively, it iscontemplated that a short-range wireless-enabled token (e.g., a tokencapable of communicating via infrared, acoustic or RFID signals) can bepositioned by the wireless transceiver devices to provide the wirelesslinking information to all gateways 16 or devices with gateways.

In the embodiments outlined above, each of the slave devices 18 and thecontrol devices 20 have an IP address on the network (or somethingsimilar) such that packets of information sent between the slave devices18 and the control devices 20 over the gateways 16 reach their intendeddestination (or over any network that connects the slave devices 18 andthe control devices 20 as established by the wireless transceiverdevices 14 a, 14 b, 14 a′, 14 b′). However, it is contemplated that theslave devices 18 and the control devices 20 could be configured to sendpackets of information without network addresses attached to thepackets. In such a situation, the system for automatically networkingdevices 8 must be configured to ensure that the packets reach the properdestination.

FIG. 9 illustrates a first configuration 300 for ensuring packets ofinformation sent between the slave devices 18 and the control devices 20over the gateways 16 reach their intended destination. FIG. 9 includesthe control device 20 wired to a first gateway 16 a by first wiring 302and a slave device 18 wired to a second gateway 16 b by second wiring304.

In the illustrated example, the first gateway 16 a is programmed withthe address information of the second gateway 16 b and the secondgateway 16 b is programmed with the address information of the firstgateway 16 a. Therefore, packets of information sent from the controldevice 20 to the first gateway 16 a will have the address of the secondgateway 16 b added thereto by the first gateway 16 a such that when thefirst gateway 16 a wirelessly communicates the packets of informationfrom the control device 20, the second gateway 16 b receives the packetsof information. The second gateway 16 b then removes the addressinformation from the packets of information and sends the packets ofinformation to the slave device 18. Likewise, packets of informationsent from the slave device 18 to the second gateway 16 b will have theaddress of the first gateway 16 a added thereto by the second gateway 16b such that when the second gateway 16 b wirelessly communicates thepackets of information from the slave device 18, the first gateway 16 areceives the packets of information. The first gateway 16 a then removesthe address information from the packets of information and sends thepackets of information to the control device 20. Accordingly, thecontrol device 20 and the slave device 18 are able to communicatewithout directly themselves including destination addresses to thepackets of information transmitted therefrom.

In the illustrated first configuration 300 as outlined above, thecontrol device 20 communicates with the first gateway 16 a over thefirst wiring 302, the slave device 18 communicates with the secondgateway 16 b over the second wiring 304 and the first gateway 16 a andthe second gateway 16 b communicate with each other wirelessly. Asoutlined above, the first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b canform the wireless network or the wireless network used by the firstgateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b could occur over apre-established hospital network. It is contemplated that the firstgateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b could include a single port ora plurality of ports for connection to the first wiring 302 and thesecond gateway 16 b, respectively. If the first gateway 16 a and thesecond gateway 16 b include a single port, the single port could belimited to a particular type of port. For example, the single port couldbe a port for Ethernet, FireWire, USB or a serial port according to theRS-232 standard. The single port on the first gateway 16 a and thesecond gateway 16 b could be the same type as the port on the controldevice 20 and the slave device 18, respectfully. Alternatively, thesingle port on the first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b couldbe different than the type of port on the control device 20 and theslave device 18, with the first wiring 302 and the second wiring 304having different port connectors on either end thereof (e.g., FireWireon a first end and USB on a second end). It is further contemplated thatthe first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b could include aplurality of ports such that the wiring 302, 304 could have the sameport connecter on each end thereof and the proper port on the firstgateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b could be used depending on theport of the control device 20 and the slave device 18, respectively. Allof the control device 20, the gateways 16 a, 16 b and the slave device18 can be configured to be hot-swappable or cold-swappable.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method 310 of controlling the slave device 18using the first configuration 300 of FIG. 9. The method 310 includesoutputting control signals without a destination address from thecontrol device 20 to the first gateway 16 a at step 312, adding adestination address for the second gateway 16 b to the control signalswith the first gateway 16 a at step 314, wirelessly transmitting thecontrol signals from the first gateway 16 a to the second gateway 16 bat step 316, removing the destination address for the second gateway 16b from the control signals with the second gateway 16 b at step 318, andsending the control signals from the second gateway 16 b to the slavedevice 18 at step 320. Information is sent from the slave device 18 tothe control device 20 in the reverse direction using the same process asset forth in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 illustrates a second configuration 322 for ensuring packets ofinformation sent between the control device 20 and a plurality of theslave devices 18 over the gateways 16 reach their intended destination.FIG. 11 includes the control device 20 wired to the first gateway 16 aby the first wiring 302 a and by third wiring 302 b. FIG. 11 alsoincludes a first slave device 18 a wired to the second gateway 16 b bythe second wiring 304 a and a second slave device 18 b wired to thesecond gateway 16 b by fourth wiring 304 b.

In the illustrated example, the first gateway 16 a is programmed withthe address information of the second gateway 16 b and the secondgateway 16 b is programmed with the address information of the firstgateway 16 a. Moreover, the first gateway 16 a is programmed with portinformation of the second gateway 16 b (in the illustrated example,information related to the ports wherein the second wiring 304 a and thefourth wiring 304 b connect to the second gateway 16 b, either removablyor fixedly) and the second gateway 16 b is programmed with portinformation of the first gateway 16 a (in the illustrated example,information related to the ports wherein the first wiring 302 a and thethird wiring 302 b connect to the first gateway 16 a, either removablyor fixedly). Therefore, packets of information sent from the controldevice 20 to the first gateway 16 a over the first wiring 302 a willhave the address of the second gateway 16 b added thereto along withport information related to the port of the second wiring 304 a by thefirst gateway 16 a such that when the first gateway 16 a wirelesslycommunicates the packets of information from the control device 20delivered by the first wiring 302 a, the second gateway 16 b receivesthe packets of information for sending on the second wiring 304 a. Thesecond gateway 16 b then removes the address information along with theport information from the packets of information originally sent throughthe first wiring 302 a and sends the packets of information to the firstslave device 18 a over the second wiring 304 a. Likewise, packets ofinformation sent from the control device 20 to the first gateway 16 aover the third wiring 302 b will have the address of the second gateway16 b added thereto along with port information related to the port ofthe fourth wiring 304 b by the first gateway 16 a such that when thefirst gateway 16 a wirelessly communicates the packets of informationfrom the control device 20 delivered by the third wiring 302 b, thesecond gateway 16 b receives the packets of information for sending onto the fourth wiring 304 b. The second gateway 16 b then removes theaddress information along with the port information from the packets ofinformation originally sent through the third wiring 302 b and sends thepackets of information to the second slave device 18 b over the fourthwiring 304 b.

In a similar manner, packets of information sent from the first slavedevice 18 a to the second gateway 16 b over the second wiring 304 a willhave the address of the first gateway 16 a added thereto along withinformation related to the port of the first wiring 302 a by the secondgateway 16 b such that when the second gateway 16 b wirelesslycommunicates the packets of information from the first slave device 18 adelivered by the second wiring 304 a, the first gateway 16 a receivesthe packets of information for sending on the first wiring 302 a. Thefirst gateway 16 a then removes the address information along with theport information from the packets of information originally sent throughthe second wiring 304 a and sends the packets of information to thecontrol device 20 over the first wiring 302 a. Likewise, packets ofinformation sent from the second slave device 18 b to the second gateway16 b over the fourth wiring 304 b will have the address of the firstgateway 16 a added thereto along with information related to the port ofthe third wiring 302 b by the second gateway 16 b such that when thesecond gateway 16 b wirelessly communicates the packets of informationfrom the second slave device 18 b delivered by the fourth wiring 304 b,the first gateway 16 a receives the packets of information for sendingon the third wiring 302 b. The first gateway 16 a then removes theaddress information along with the port information from the packets ofinformation originally sent through the fourth wiring 304 b and sendsthe packets of information to the control device 20 over the thirdwiring 302 b. It is contemplated that any number of slave devices 18could be connected to the second gateway 16 b and that port informationis transmitted between the first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16b as outlined above for each slave device 18 connected to the secondgateway 16 b to ensure that the packets of information reach theirintended destination.

In the illustrated example, the first gateway 16 a and the secondgateway 16 b can form the wireless network or the wireless network usedby the first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b could occur over apre-established hospital network. Furthermore, the first gateway 16 aand the second gateway 16 b could include any type of ports connected tothe first wiring 302 a, the second wiring 304 a, the third wiring 302 band the fourth wiring 304 b (either matching the ports on the controldevice 20 or the slave devices 18 a, 18 b or being different as outlinedabove in the first configuration 300). All of the control device 20, thegateways 16 a, 16 b and the slave devices 18 a, 18 b can be configuredto be hot-swappable or cold-swappable.

FIG. 12 illustrates a method 324 of controlling a plurality of slavedevices 18 using the second configuration 322 of FIG. 11. The method 324includes outputting control signals without a destination address fromthe control device 20 to the first gateway 16 a at step 326, adding adestination address and port information for the second gateway 16 b tothe control signals with the first gateway 16 a at step 328, wirelesslytransmitting the control signals from the first gateway 16 a to thesecond gateway 16 b at step 330, removing the destination address andport information for the second gateway 16 b from the control signalswith the second gateway 16 b at step 332, and sending the controlsignals from the second gateway 16 b to the slave devices 18 a, 18 b atstep 334. Information is sent from the slave devices 18 a, 18 b to thecontrol device 20 in the reverse direction using the same process as setforth in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 illustrates a third configuration 336 for ensuring packets ofinformation sent between the control device 20 and a plurality of theslave devices 18 a, 18 b over the gateways 16 a, 16 b reach theirintended destination. The third configuration 336 is identical andfunctions the same as the second configuration 322 except that thecontrol device 20 is connected to the first gateway 16 a by a singlewire, the first wiring 302, instead of multiple wirings. The firstwiring 302 is capable of sending multiple control signals for multipleslave devices 18 a, 18 b, etc. For example, the first wiring 302 can bean Ethernet cable. While only two slave devices 18 a, 18 b areillustrated in FIG. 13, any number of slave device 18 a, 18 b, etc. canbe connected to the second gateway 16 b.

In the illustrated third configuration 336, the control device 20 andthe slave devices 18 a, 18 b, etc. can communicate in any manner andinitiation of communications can happen in any manner to ensure that thecontrol device 20 is properly issuing command signals to the properslave device 18 a, 18 b, etc. For example, the second gateway 16 b canperiodically send device discovery messages on the ports thereof. Whenthe slave devices 18 a, 18 b, etc. are connected to the second gateway16 b, the second gateway 16 b discovers the connection because the slavedevices 18 a, 18 b etc. respond to the device discovery message. Thesecond gateway 16 b can then send a signal to the first gateway 16 areporting of the connection of the slave device 18 a, 18 b, etc. alongwith information related to the port of the second gateway 16 b to whichthe newly connected slave device 18 a, 18 b, etc. is connected.Therefore, the control device 20 can add the port information to thecontrol signals sent therefrom to ensure that the control device 20 isproperly issuing command signals to the proper slave device 18 a, 18 b,etc. It is also contemplated that the first gateway 16 a and/or thesecond gateway 16 b can add the port information to ensure that thecontrol device 20 is properly issuing command signals to the properslave device 18 a, 18 b, etc. without sending the port information tothe control device 20.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method 340 of controlling a plurality of slavedevices 18 using the third configuration 336 of FIG. 13. The method 340includes periodically outputting device discovery messages from thesecond gateway 16 b at step 342, receiving a response to the devicediscovery messages from the slave devices 18 a, 18 b, etc. at step 344,informing the control device 20 of the connection of one of the slavedevices 18 a, 18 b, etc. at step 346, outputting control signals withouta destination address from the control device 20 to the first gateway 16a at step 348, adding a destination address and port information for thesecond gateway 16 b to the control signals with the first gateway 16 aat step 350, wirelessly transmitting the control signals from the firstgateway 16 a to the second gateway 16 b at step 352, removing thedestination address and port information for the second gateway 16 bfrom the control signals with the second gateway 16 b at step 354, andsending the control signals from the second gateway 16 b to the slavedevices 18 a, 18 b at step 356. Information is sent from the slavedevices 18 a, 18 b, etc. to the control device 20 in the reversedirection using the same process as set forth in FIG. 14 except thatsteps 342, 344 and 346 are not needed once the slave devices 18 a, 18 b,etc. are discovered.

In all of the embodiments of FIGS. 9, 11 and 13 as outlined above, thefirst gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b have the address of theother gateway programmed therein to allow the first gateway 16 a and thesecond gateway 16 b to communicate. The addresses of other gateways canbe programmed during manufacture of the gateways and the gateways can besold in pairs. However, it is contemplated that the gateways can beprogrammed during use with the addresses of other gateways. FIG. 15illustrates a first example of a system used to connect the firstgateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b. In FIG. 15, a token 360 havingaddress information (e.g., SSID) thereon is engaged with each of thefirst gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b to connect the firstgateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b. The token 360 could be a USBflash drive insertable into each of the first gateway 16 a and thesecond gateway 16 b, an RFID chip that can be read by an RFID reader ineach of the first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b, an infraredremote that can send the address information to the first gateway 16 aand the second gateway 16 b or any other device that is capable ofsending or providing address information to ensure that all of thedevices begin operation on the same channel of a wireless link signal.By using the token 360, the first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16b can be used in combination with any other gateways. For example, thefirst gateway 16 a can be located in a room and second gateways 16 b ofany secondary device group 12 a, 12 b, 12 a′, 12 b′can be brought intothe room and wirelessly connected to the first gateway 16 a to allow thecontrol device 20 to control the slave devices 18 a, 18 b, etc.

FIG. 16 illustrates a second example of a system used to selectivelyconnect the first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b. In FIG. 16,the main wireless transceiver device 14 a communicates with thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b as outlined above. The mainwireless transceiver device 14 a sends an SSID (or other wirelessnetwork identification) and an IP address of the control device 20 (orother device identification address) to the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b, It is contemplated that the network addresssent to the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b could include theaddress of the control device 20. The main wireless transceiver device14 a obtains the SSID (or other wireless network identification) fromthe first gateway 16 a or provides the SSID (or other wireless networkidentification) to the first gateway 16 a. The SSID (or other wirelessnetwork identification) sent from the main wireless transceiver device14 a to the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b is thereafteralso provided to the second gateway 16 b to connect the first gateway 16a and the second gateway 16 b (or multiple second gateways 16 b) over awireless network (e.g., WiFi or Bluetooth®). The IP address of thecontrol device 20 (or other device identification address) sent to thesecondary wireless transceiver device 14 b is sent to the second gateway16 b to allow for a connection (e.g., using a socket connection betweenthe control device 20 and the second gateway 16 b) between the slavedevice 18 and the control device 20 to allow the control device 20 tocontrol the slave device 18, Alternatively, the address of the controldevice 20 could be included as part of the network address.

FIG. 17 illustrates a method 362 of controlling a plurality of slavedevices 18 using the system of FIG. 16. The method 362 includes thesending of connection information (which can include a wireless networkidentification address that includes a device identification address ofthe control device 20 or a wireless network identification address thatincludes a device identification address of the control device 20) fromthe main wireless transceiver device 14 a to the secondary wirelesstransceiver device 14 b at step 364, passing the connection informationfrom the secondary wireless transceiver device 14 b to the secondgateway 16 b at step 366, connecting the first gateway 16 a and thesecond gateway 16 b over a wireless network at step 368, and providing aconnection between the slave device 18 and the control device 20 usingthe device identification address of the control device 20 at step 370.The method 362 can use the method 340 of controlling a plurality ofslave devices 18 using the third configuration 336 of FIG. 13 asoutlined above to connect a plurality of slave devices 18 to the controldevice 20. The method 362 can also use other manners of discoveringslave devices 18 as outlined below.

The systems and embodiments of FIGS. 9, 11, 13, 15 and 16 illustratemethods of wirelessly connecting the first gateway 16 a to a singlesecond gateway 16 b. However, all of the systems and embodiments ofFIGS. 9, 11, 13, 15 and 16 can be used to connect the first gateway 16 ato a plurality of second gateways 16 b. For the embodiments of FIGS. 9,11 and 13, the first gateway 16 a and a plurality of second gateways 16b can be programmed to communicate with each other. For the embodimentof FIG. 15, the token 360 can be used to link the first gateway 16 a anda plurality of the second gateways 16 b. For the embodiment of FIG. 16,the main wireless transceiver device 14 a can communicate with aplurality of secondary wireless transceiver devices 14 b as outlinedabove to link the first gateway 16 a with a plurality of the secondgateways 16 b. It is contemplated that the first gateway 16 a and thesecond gateway 16 b or a plurality of second gateways 16 b could beconnected in other manners (e.g., using a location service andwirelessly sending the location of the first gateway 16 a and the secondgateway 16 b thereto (for example, over a building wide WiFi network)).Moreover, it is contemplated that the control device 20 can be wired toslave devices 18 through the first gateway 16 a. Therefore, the controldevice 20 can control all devices in a room including those on the samecart or shelf via wires to the first gateway 16 a and to the slavedevices 18 and wirelessly to other slave devices 18. For the embodimentsof FIGS. 15 and 16, the first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b(or plurality of second gateways 16 b) can terminate the network and/orconnection(s) when the control device 20 is powered down, when the slavedevice 18 is powered down, when the first gateway 16 a is powered down,when the second gateway 16 b is powered down and/or when the network isdown. It is further contemplated that the network and/or connection(s)can be selectively and manually disconnected.

In communications between the control device 20 and the slave devices18, the slave devices 18 must be able to understand and implement thepackets of information sent to the slave devices 18 from the controldevice 20. Likewise, the control device 20 must be able to understandpackets of information sent thereto from the slave devices 18.Therefore, the control device 20 must send packets of information to theslave devices 18 using a serial port operating mode or protocol (e.g.,at a specific baud) that the slave devices 18 can understand. An aspectof the present invention is to provide a system to ensure that thecontrol device 20 issues commands to the slave devices 18 using a serialport operating mode or protocol that the slave devices 18 canunderstand.

In the illustrated example, the second gateway 16 b connected to theslave devices 18 determines the communication protocol of the slavedevices 18 to ensure that the slave devices 18 can implement the controlcommands in the packets of information sent thereto from the controldevice 20. FIG. 18 illustrates a method 500 of establishing acommunication protocol between the slave device 18 and the controldevice 20. At step 502, the method 500 is initiated and a devicediscovery message is set to a first communication protocol (e.g., at9600 bps). At step 504, the second gateway 16 b sends the devicediscovery message on a serial port thereof to which the slave device 18is connected at step 504, with the device discovery message using thecommunication protocol as established in the step leading to step 504(initially the first communication protocol as established at step 502).

In the illustrated example, if the second gateway 16 b does riot receivea response to the device discovery message at step 504 within a certaintime period at decision step 506, the method 500 proceeds to decisionstep 508. At decision step 508, the method 500 determines if the devicediscovery message using the communication protocol as established in thestep leading to step 504 (initially the first communication protocol asestablished at step 502) has happened more than a certain number oftimes. If the device discovery message using the communication protocolas established in the step leading to step 504 (initially the firstcommunication protocol as established at step 502) has happened lessthan a certain number of times as determined at step 508, the method 500proceeds back to step 504 to resend the device discovery message usingthe communication protocol as established in the step leading to step504 (initially the first communication protocol as established at step502).

If the device discovery message using the communication protocol asestablished in the step leading to step 504 (initially the firstcommunication protocol as established at step 502) has happened thecertain number of times as determined at step 508, the method 500proceeds to step 510 wherein the device discovery message is set toanother communication protocol (e.g., at 19200 bps). After step 510, themethod 500 proceeds back to step 504 wherein the device discoverymessage is sent using the communication protocol as established in step510 (i.e., using another communication protocol). The method 500 thenproceeds to step 506 and step 508, if appropriate. If the devicediscovery message using the communication protocol as established in thestep leading to step 504 (another communication protocol as establishedat step 510) has happened the certain number of times as determined atstep 508, the method 500 proceeds back to step 510 wherein the devicediscovery message is set to yet another communication protocol (e.g.,back to 9600 bps or another communication protocol). Once initiated, themethod 500 continues in a loop of steps 504, 506, 508 and 510 until thesecond gateway 16 b receives a response to the device discovery messagesent at step 504 within the certain time period at decision step 506, atwhich point the method 500 proceeds to decision step 512.

In the illustrated example, the method 500 determines if the response tothe device discovery message is a valid response at decision step 512.If the response to the device discovery message is a not a validresponse as determined at step 512, the method 500 proceeds to step 510as outlined above wherein the communication protocol of the devicediscovery message is altered. However, if the response to the devicediscovery message is a valid response as determined at step 512, themethod 500 proceeds to step 514 wherein the communication protocol ofthe valid response as sent at step 504 (and established at step 502 or510) is communicated to the control device 20. The control device 20 isthen set to communicate at the communication protocol of the validresponse as sent at step 504 at step 516. Moreover, the control device20 is set to receive communications using the communication protocol ofthe valid response as sent at step 504 at step 518.

The illustrated method 500 of establishing a communication protocolbetween the slave device 18 and the control device 20 includes sendingthe device discovery message with the second gateway 16 b at step 504.Since the method 500 does not send a wireless communication until step514, the method 500 can minimize wireless communications. However, it iscontemplated that the device discovery message sent at step 504 could besent from the first gateway 16 a wirelessly to the second gateway 16 bat step 504 (with a response to the device discovery message beingwirelessly sent back to the first gateway 16 a) or from the controldevice 20 to the second gateway 16 b via the first gateway 16 a. It isfurther contemplated that the method 500 can omit step 508 and have step506 directly proceed to step 510 if a replay to the device discoverymessage it not received in the certain time period.

FIG. 19 illustrates a method 550 of sending commands using thecommunication protocol as set by step 516 and 518 of the method 500establishing a communication protocol between the slave device 18 andthe control device 20. First, at step 552, the control device 20 sendscommands to the slave device 18. At decision step 554, a determinationis made if a confirmation of the command is received by the controldevice 20 within a certain time period. If the confirmation of thecommand is received by the control device 20 within the certain timeperiod as determined by step 554, the method returns to step 552 whereinfurther commands can be sent from the control device 20 to the slavedevice 18. If the confirmation of the command is not received by thecontrol device 20 within the certain time period as determined by step554, the method proceeds to decision step 556 wherein there is adetermination if the command of step 552 has been sent a certain numberof times. If the command of step 552 has not been sent the certainnumber of times as determined at step 556, the method 550 proceeds backto step 552 wherein the command is sent again. If the command of step552 has been sent the certain number of times as determined at step 556,the method 550 proceeds to step 502 of method 500 at step 558 along withresetting the control device 20 to no longer communicate at thecommunication protocol of the valid response as set by step 516 and nolonger be set to receive communications using the communication protocolas set by step 518.

Some control devices 20 (and communication protocols used by the controldevices 20) are configured to continuously send status update requeststo the slave devices 18 connected thereto (e.g., every 250 ms). Theresponse to the status update requests can be a notification that thestatus of the slave device 18 has not changed. If no status update isreceived, the control device 20 then knows that the slave device 18 hasbeen disconnected (or powered down). However, continuously sendingstatus update requests can substantially increase wireless traffic usingthe first gateway 16 a and the second gateway 16 b as outlined above.Therefore, the first gateway 16 a can be configured to ignore or notforward status update requests received from the control device 20.Furthermore, the second gateway 16 b can be configured to send thestatus update requests to the slave devices 18 connected theretoaccording to the method 600 of requesting updates of FIG. 19.

In the illustrated example, the method 600 of requesting updates of FIG.20 includes sending a status update request from the second gateway 16 bto the slave devices 18 connected thereto at step 602. If there is nochange in the status of the slave device 18 as determined at decisionstep 604, the method 600 returns to step 602. However, if there is achange in the status of the slave device 18 as determined at decisionstep 604 (e.g., the slave device 18 is disconnected or a parameter ofthe slave device 18 changes through internal events or through userinteraction), the method 600 proceeds to step 606 wherein theinformation regarding the change in status is sent to the first gateway16 a and the control device 20 at step 606. Therefore, the method 600 ofrequesting updates of FIG. 19 reduces wireless traffic.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognizedthat variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, includingthe rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the presentinvention. For example, the control device 20 and the slave devices 18of FIGS. 9-20 can be any of the control devices 20 or slave devices 18as disclosed herein. Furthermore, all of the wiring 302, 302 a, 302 b,304, 304 a and 304 b can be any type of wiring (e.g., Ethernet) and canbe removably or permanently connected to the control devices 20, theslave devices 18 and the gateways 16 a, 16 b. Moreover, it iscontemplated that the main wireless transceiver devices 14 a, 14 a′ canbe integrated with the control devices 20, 20′ and/or the slave devices18, 18′. Likewise, it is contemplated that the secondary wirelesstransceiver devices 14 b, 14 b′ can be integrated with the slave devices18, 18′. Moreover, it is contemplated that any device that controlsanother device is a control device and any device that can be controlledis a slave device and that a single device can be both a slave devicewhen it is being controlled and a control device when it controlsanother device. It is contemplated that the control device and thegateway device could be in a single housing and that the slave deviceand the gateway device could be in a single housing. It is furthercontemplated that any of the control device, gateway device and/orwireless transceiver device could be in a single housing and that any ofthe slave device, gateway device and/or wireless transceiver devicecould be in a single housing.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling at least one slave devicecomprising: providing a control device; outputting at least one controlsignal from the control device to a first wireless gateway, the at leastone control signal from the control device not having a destinationaddress; adding a second wireless gateway address to the at least onecontrol signal with the first wireless gateway; wirelessly transmittingthe at least one control signal from the first wireless gateway to asecond wireless gateway; removing the second wireless gateway addressfrom the at least one control signal with the second wireless gateway;and sending the at least one control signal to the at least one slavedevice.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including: outputting statussignals from the at least one slave device to the second wirelessgateway; adding a first wireless gateway address to the status signalswith the second wireless gateway; wirelessly transmitting the statussignals from the second wireless gateway to the first wireless gateway;removing the first wireless gateway address from the status signals withthe first wireless gateway; and sending the status signals to thecontrol device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first wirelessgateway and the second wireless gateway communicate over WiFi.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: the at least one slave device comprises aplurality of slave devices; the at least one control signal comprises aplurality of control signals; and the method further includes: adding aport address to each of the plurality of control signals, each portaddress corresponding to a port associated with one of the plurality ofslave devices.
 5. The method of claim 1, further including: associatinga token with each of the first wireless gateway and the second wirelessgateway to provide a network identification to each of the firstwireless gateway and the second wireless gateway to allow the firstwireless gateway and the second wireless gateway to communicate over anetwork associated with the network identification.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, further including: connecting a main wireless transceiverdevice to the first wireless gateway; connecting a secondary wirelesstransceiver device to the second wireless gateway; wirelesslycommunicating a network identification from the main wirelesstransceiver device to the secondary wireless transceiver device toinstruct the first wireless gateway and the second wireless gateway toform a network to allow the first wireless gateway and the secondwireless gateway to communicate over a network associated with thenetwork identification.
 7. The method of claim 1, further including:connecting the second wireless gateway to the at least one slave device;sending a first device discovery message from the second wirelessgateway to the at least one slave device using a first communicationprotocol; if the at least one slave device responds to the first devicediscovery message using the first communication protocol, establishingcommunication between the at least one slave device and the controldevice using the first communication protocol; if the at least one slavedevice does not respond to the first device discovery message using thefirst communication protocol, sending a second device discovery messagefrom the second wireless gateway to the at least one slave device usinga second communication protocol; if the at least one slave deviceresponds to the second device discovery message using the secondcommunication protocol, establishing communication between the at leastone slave device and the control device using the second communicationprotocol.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein: the second wireless gatewaywirelessly communicates the first communication protocol or the secondcommunication protocol to the first wireless gateway connected to thecontrol device.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein: if the at least oneslave device does not respond to the second device discovery messageusing the second communication protocol, sending a third devicediscovery message from the second wireless gateway to the at least oneslave device using a third communication protocol; if the at least oneslave device responds to the third device discovery message using thethird communication protocol, establishing communication between the atleast one slave device and the control device using the thirdcommunication protocol.
 10. The method of claim 1, further including:connecting the second wireless gateway to the at least one slave device;sending a status update request from the second wireless gateway to theat least one slave device; if the at least one slave device responds tothe status update request that a status thereof has not changed, notwirelessly sending a status message to the control device; if the atleast one slave device responds to the status update request that thestatus thereof has changed, wirelessly sending the status message to thecontrol device that the status of the at least one slave device haschanged.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein: the at least one controlsignal from the control device does not have a source address.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: outputting the at least one control signalfrom the control device to the first wireless gateway occurs over awired connection.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein: sending the atleast one control signal to the at least one slave device includessending the at least one control signal from the second gateway to theat least one slave device over a wired connection.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: outputting the at least one control signal from thecontrol device to the first wireless gateway occurs over a first wiredconnection; and sending the at least one control signal to the at leastone slave device includes sending the at least one control signal fromthe second gateway to the at least one slave device over a second wiredconnection.